Board of Regents Awards Software Contract

In a move aimed at enhancing functionality and addressing Year 2000 software needs of the University System of Georgia, the Board of Regents has approved the awarding of an $11.8 million software contract to PeopleSoft for the purchase of financial and human resource information systems.

The new systems will replace a 20-year old mainframe computer that does not accommodate the computerized employee data collection necessary to serve a system of 30,000 employees. It will eliminate the need for the System’s current archaic payroll system which still operates on “punch card” technology, and inefficient “shadow accounting” systems currently employed on University System campuses. An electronic procurement system that will eliminate purchasing duplication and “bar code” technology for inventory use are additional features. In addition, the new software will bring the University System into compliance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principle standards required by law.

“The PeopleSoft software is going to allow the University System to move its human resource and financial operations into a much more sophisticated technical environment than we currently have available, which will provide us with greater functionality and efficiency of use,” said Dr. Lindsay Desrochers, senior vice chancellor for capital resources for the Board of Regents. “This decision is a long-awaited one by our campuses–not only because of the expanded technical resource that we will have at our disposal, but also because of its role in addressing the Year 2000 computer concerns. I am pleased that we are now able to deliver these much-needed services to our campuses.”

Four bids were submitted by computer firms interested in securing the software contract from the Board of Regents. Each was evaluated in a Request for Proposals process administered by the state’s Department of Administrative Services on behalf of the board. In addition, a committee of University System personnel representing various business and human resource functions were involved in developing the necessary requirements and desired functions. Six criteria were assessed, including: functional features for adaptability to budget, general ledger financials, payroll and personnel systems; interface with existing software programs currently in use; technical acceptability relative to existing hardware and infrastructure; proposed vendor support in the areas of maintenance and training; vendor credibility and reputation in the marketplace; and ease of implementation on the University System’s campuses.

The PeopleSoft human resource and financial software currently is being utilized by more than 70 colleges and universities nationwide, including several major institutions throughout the South.